Harper College Potters Show Skill

Most people look at a pile of clay and see, well, a pile of clay.

Not Mary Jane Kirkwood.

This Inverness woman looks at a pile of clay and sees a challenge, something that begs to be transformed into a beautiful pot, maybe a bowl, or a sparkling cup.

"It's all between me and the clay," the former teacher and 19-year potter said, as her potter's wheel whirred and her hands skillfully molded yet another piece of clay into an object of beauty.

"It's addictive. I love to throw."

Kirkwood, who has worked with clay for 19 years, gently shaped a lifeless mound of clay into a small vase during a Studio Open House & Ceramic Sale on Dec. 2 at Harper College in Palatine.

She was among 14 artists, who showed work at the event which began a number of years ago as part of a Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the college, said Karen Murphy of Schaumburg, a member of the Harper College Clay Guild.

"When that stopped we did it as a sale," Murphy said. "It was like an open house, partly to get students to come down and see and get interested in taking a class and partly to give students a chance to display and sell their work."

A variety of objects were on view at the sale, including pots, bowls and mugs of all shapes and sizes, jewelry, vases and ornaments.

"I hope people come down to take a look at the studio and take a class," Murphy said.

Another sale is planned for the spring, she said.

This sale drew an early crowd, some of them Harper employees on the hunt for holiday gifts.

Many left with bags full of pots, mugs and plates.

And that was good news for artists such as Joni Allen. A potter for 30 years, Allen was showing teapots, mugs and plates. She specializes in stoneware, porcelain and Rake.

Allen said she started throwing while living in Minnesota.

"A friend took me to an art center and I saw someone throwing a pot. I always wanted to work on one of those," she said. "And I still am."